Students at Southern Adventist University have a large amount of classes the university offers outside of the typical major classes. Students can learn to cook, become a masseuse, become a personal trainer, ski, kayak, scuba dive and more. One exciting class is an outdoor rock climbing course taught by Professor Doug Brown. Taught in both the fall and winter semesters, Basic Rock Climbing provides an introductory level class to outdoor rock climbing, which covers climbing, tying knots, setting up routes and learning how to use rock climbing gear. Students do not need to have any background in climbing, just a willing spirit and a no-quit attitude. During the semester, climbers go on day trips and even a weekend trip to Sand Rock in Alabama.
Professor Brown enjoys rock climbing because it is fun way to stay in shape, it is something that people can do the rest of their lives and it sharpens his mental game.
“I love seeing people, who have little or no experience climbing outside, learn to love the sport and find new appreciation for the outdoors,” Brown said. “Every climb is a puzzle. You are not competing against anyone else; it is just a personal challenge to figure out the moves and see if you can figure a new thing out.”
Students who have previously taken the class feel similarly. Sierra Garrett, who took the class in fall of 2018 said, “I loved the feeling of finishing a climb that I found to be especially challenging. Getting really, really stuck, not thinking I was going to be able to get past a certain point, and then finally succeeding. I loved that Professor Brown pushed us outside our comfort zones so we could grow as climbers and as people.”
Basic Rock Climbing is not just a class; it also provides an environment for Christian growth and friendship.
Professor Brown explained, “There are so many things about rock climbing that lends itself to learning about real life, especially our walk with God. We all face things that are difficult and scary and rock climbing seems to be a practical way to see how God works with us and helps us find our way through these trying times. It is so cool to watch students grow in their own lives as they learn to be ok on the rocks.”
Brown credits Southern Adventist University for allowing him to incorporate God in his teaching, stating, “Being able to teach rock climbing on a Christian campus is wonderful because we get to be out in God’s creation and experience what it means to work together and depend on each other. Students work through their fears of work to overcome challenges and often we get to talk about how these experiences compare to their own walk with God. I love the freedom we have to talk about God and the spiritual things we are learning.”
Students appreciated this aspect of the class, as Alexia Bernardo said, “I loved the family atmosphere of the class and that I become good friends with everyone in the group at the end of the semester. I was able to relate God to almost everything we did. It just showed me once again, that God really is in everything.”
Image credit: Everett Young